Mining machine having liquid supply sealing means

ABSTRACT

Mining machine having a rotary mining head including a rotatable support carrying cutter supporting drum means, wherein liquid such as water is discharged through discharge outlets peripherally of the drum means. The liquid is supplied through passage means in nonrotatable supporting means and communicating passage means in the rotary mining head, leakage at the connection of such passage means being prevented by a plurality of sealing rings which encircle the support laterally spaced apart longitudinally of the latter adjacent opposite sides of such connection. Leakage past the sealing rings flows externally of the mining head, whereby such leakage is readily and quickly detectable; and means separate from the sealing rings prevent liquid leakage past the latter from flowing to the bearings mounting the support and/or to the gears through which the mining head is rotatably driven.

United States Patent Amoroso 154] MINING MACHINE HAVING LIQUID SUPPLYSEALING MEANS [52] US. Cl ..299/73, 299/81 [51] Int. Cl ..E2lc 27/24[58] Field of Search ..299/l2, 73, 75, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,374,033 3/1968 Arentzen..299/81 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain ..299/8l 51 Oct.17,1972

Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Attorney-Frank S. Troidl, David W.Tibbott and Robert R. Paquin [5 7 ABSTRACT Mining machine having arotary mining head including a rotatable support carrying cuttersupporting drum means, wherein liquid such as water is dischargedthrough discharge outlets peripherally of the drum means. The liquid issupplied through passage means in nonrotatable supporting means andcommunicating passage means in the rotary mining head, leakage at theconnection of such passage means being prevented by a plurality ofsealing rings which encircle the support laterally spaced apartlongitudinally of the latter adjacent opposite sides of such connection.Leakage past the sealing rings flows externally of the mining head,whereby such leakage is readily and quickly detectable; and meansseparate from the sealing rings prevent liquid leakage past the latterfrom flowing to the bearings mounting the support and/or to the gearsthrough which the mining head is rotatably driven.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 11 m2 sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR IMICHAEL J. AMOROSO ATTORNEY MINING MACHINE HAVING LIQUID SUPPLY SEALINGMEANS The present invention relates to mining machines and moreparticularly to mining machines, such as for example employed for themining of coal, adapted for discharging liquid such as water through arotary mining head.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmining machine of the type set forth which has sealing rings preventingleakage of the liquid at the connection of a liquid supply passage in anonrotatable support with a liquid supply passage in the rotary mininghead.

Another object o the invention is to provide a new and improved miningmachine of the type set forth which is particularly constructed andarranged to prevent liquid leakage past the sealing rings from flowingto either the bearings mounting the mining head or the gears throughwhich the latter is rotatably driven.

Another object is to provide a new and improved mining machine of thetype set forth which is particularly constructed and arranged wherebyliquid leakage past the sealing rings flows externally of the mininghead and is thereby readily and quickly detectable.

In accordance with the invention, a mining machine may comprise achassis, a boom mounted on the chassis for vertical movement thereto,supporting means carried by the boom, a rotary mining head including asupport and cutter supporting drum means carried by the support forrotation therewith, bearing means rotatably mounting the support on thesupporting means, driving means including gear means for rotatablydriving the support relative to the supporting means, discharge meansperipherally of the drum means for discharging liquid during rotation ofthe drum means, the supporting means being provided with first liquidsupply passage means, second liquid supply passage means in the mininghead connected to the first supply means to receive liquid therefrom andcommunicating with the liquid discharge means for supplying liquidthereto, a plurality of sealing rings laterally spaced apart adjacentopposite sides of the connection of said passage means for preventingliquid leakage at such connection, at least one of such sealing ringspreventing liquid leakage from passing externally of the mining head,and means separate form the sealing rings preventing liquid leakage bythe sealing rings from flowing to said gear means and said bearingmeans.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of one form of mining machine embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top or plan view, partially brokenaway and in section, of the mining machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the miningmachine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top or plan view of another form of mining machine embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a portionof the rotary mining machine shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,FIG. 1 illustrates a mining machine designated generally as 10 whichcomprises a chassis 12 having mounted thereon a vertically movable boom14 which projects forwardly of the forward end of the chassis 12. Theboom carries a pair of cutter supporting arms, 16, mounted adjacentopposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the machine 10, whichduring the machine operation are laterally oscillated towards and awayfrom one another by a hydraulic motor designated generally as 18 locatedbetween the supporting arms 16. The rotary mining head of the machine 10comprises rotatably driven cutter supporting drums 20, 22 at the forwardend of each supporting arm 16 carrying the usual cutter bits 24 whichmay be of any conventional construction and arrangement. The drums 20,22 of each supporting arm 16 are threadedly mounted on opposite ends ofa support or supporting shaft 26 which longitudinally extendstranversely through the arm 16 and is rotatably mounted thereon bybearings 28. The supports 26 are connected to be rotatably driven byindividual drive motors 30 through separate gear trains each comprisinga bevel gear 32 mounted on one end of a rotatable shaft 34 at its otherend connected to be rotated by a respective motor 30, an intermeshingbevel gear 36 keyed to a rotatable shaft 38, a drive gear 40 also on theshaft 38, and a driven gear 42 keyed to the support 26 and intermeshingwith the drive gear 40. If desired, further details of a conventionalmining machine of this general construction can be obtained from US.Pat. No. 3,353,871, issued Nov. 21, 1967 and assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention.

Each supporting arm 16, as shown in FIG. 2, is provided with a liquidinlet 44 adapted for connection to a supply hose (not shown)communicating with a pressurized source of water or other liquid supplypipe or tube 46 which is connected at its rearward inlet end to theinlet 44 to receive the liquid therethrough. Each arm 16 rigidly carriesnonrotatable connector or adaptor housing 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 containingcommunicating bores 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, respectively, the housing 56encircling the respective shaft 26 and including an annular inner face68 bounding the outer side of an annular supply chamber 80. The bore 58in the adaptor housing 48 is connected to the forward discharge end ofthe supply tube 46 to receive liquid therefrom; and the bore 66 in theadaptor housing 56 extends through the annular face 68 to dischargeliquid to the chamber 80 in a direction tranversely or circumferentiallyof the surrounded shaft 26. Hence, liquid supplied through the inlet 44flows successfully through the supply pipe 46 and the bores 58, 60, 62,64, 66 inwardly of the annular face 68 of the adaptor housing 56.

The hub 70 of each drum 20 is mounted on its shaft 26 with an annularshoulder 72 spaced axially of such shaft 26 from an annular shoulder 74on the latter. An annular adaptor housing 76 is clamped to each shaft 26for rotation therewith between the pair of spaced shoulders 72, 74. Theadaptor housings 76 have annular faces 78 spaced inwardly from therespective adjacent annular faces 68 to bound the radially inner sidesof the supply chambers 80, and contain passages 82 communicating withthe chambers to receive liquid therefrom in a direction radially ortransversely of the shafts. Liquid leakage form the sides of thechambers 80 is prevented by sealing rings 84, 86 which encircle theshafts 26 laterally spaced apart longitudinally of the shafts 26adjacent opposite sides of the chambers 80. The sealing rings 84, 86,prevent liquid leakage from the chambers 80 externally of the mininghead through the spaces 84a, 86a, whereby in the event of liquid leadagepast the rings 84, 86, such leakage will accumulate externally of thehead and be resultantly readily and quickly detectable. Annular sealingrings 88 encircle the shafts 26 and prevent liquid leakage past thesealing rings 86 from flowing to the bearings 28 mounting the supports26. The gears 32, 36, 40, 42 are enclosed in housings one of which isindicated generally as 90 in FIG. 2; and such housings 90 prevent liquidleakage past the rings 86 from flowing to the gears through which thedrums 20, 22 are driven.

Each hub 70 contains a bore 92 at one end connected to the passage 82 inthe respective thereadjacent adaptor housing 76 and at the other endcommunicating with a supply bore 94. The bore 94 at opposite ends isconnected to an annular chamber 96 and a supply bore 98 in its hub 70.The bores 98 each communicate through passages 100 formed in capelements 102, mounted on the thereadjacent end of the respective shaft26, with end of a bore 104 formed axially through such shaft 26. Asshown in FIG. 2, the other end of each bore 104 communicates withpassages 106 formed in a cap element 108 carried at the other end of theshaft 26, the passages 106, in turn, being connected to one end ofapassage 1 formed in the drum 22. The passage 110 is connected to anannular chamber 112 which at intervals alongs its arcuate extentcommunicates through bores 114 with liquid discharge outlets 116 locatedto discharge the liquid from the periphery of the drum 22.

Each annular chamber 96 communicates through passage means 118 with anelongated second annular chamber 120, the second annular chamber 120being at intervals along its arcuate extent provided with dischargeoutlets or nozzles 122 and the chambers 96 being directly connected tosimilar discharge outlets or nozzles 124.

During the operation of the aforedescribed mining machine, thesupporting arms 16 are continuously laterally oscillated towards andsway from one another while simultaneously the drums 20, 22 arerotatably driven through the aforedescribed gearing. Water or othersuitable liquid is continuously supplied to the inlets 44, and therefromflows through the described passage means of the supporting arms 16which comprises the tubes 46 and communicating bores 58, 60, 62, 64, 66,to the annular chambers 80 between the nonrotatable connector housings56 and the rotatable adaptor housing 76. From the chambers 80, theliquid flows through the aforedescribed passage means of the rotarymining head and is discharged through the discharge outlets or nozzles116, 122, 124. Leakage from the chambers 80 is prevented by the sealingrings 88 from flowing to the bearings 28 and the gears 42. However,leakage for the chambers 80 past the sealing rings 84, 86 flowsexternally of the mining head to the ground where it may be readily andquickly detectable.

FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate a mining machine designated generally as10a which comprises a chassis 12a having a vertically movable boom 14amounted thereon. The boom 14a carries a plurality of laterally spacedmounting arms 126 which mount the rotary mining head 128 on the boom 14afor vertical move ment therewith. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary mininghead 128 includes an axial support or shaft 130 rotatably mounted bybearings 132 contained in mounting housings 135 which are rigidlycarried by the supporting arms 126 encircling the shaft 130. The mininghead 128 comprises pairs of laterally spaced, coaxial, inner and outercutter supporting drums I36, 138 mounted on the shaft 130 for rotationtherewith, and end cutter supporting drums 140, also carried by theshaft 130, which are selectively laterally movable for extending andretracting the length of the mining head 128. The drums 136, 138, 140carry conventional cutters shown as 142 in FIG. 4. The cutters 142 onthe drums 136, 138 may, if desired, as shown in FIG. 4, be mounted onspiral plates 144 circumferentially carried by such drums oralternatively may be otherwise suitably mounted on the drums.

The mining head 128 is rotatably driven by a pair of drive motors 146each independently connected to the shaft 130 through gearing includinga gear 148, an intermeshing gear 150 mounted on a rotatable shaft 152projecting through one of the outer mounting arms 126, a gear 154mounted on the shaft 152 within a mounting housing 134 and anintermeshing gear 156,

circumferentially carried by the shaft 130. The bearings 130 andintermeshing gears 154, 156 are enclosed within the mounting housings134. The central supporting arm 126 has a liquid supply bore 158 formed'therethrough, the supply bore 158 having an inlet end communicatingwith a supply hose fragmentarily shown as 160 which is, in turn,connected to a pressurized source of water or other liquid. The mountinghousing 134 on such arm 126 contains a liquid supply passage 162intermediate its ends connected to the bore 158 and at each endcommunicating with a' bore 164 formed axially through an element 168which is threadedly connected in a radial opening 167 in the mountinghousing 134. The threaded elements 168 project through the outer face ofthe mounting housing 134 whereby the bores 164 discharge liquid outwardthrough such outer face in a direction transversely or radially of theshaft 130; and the housing 134 rigidly carries nonrotatablecircumferential ring elements 166 on opposite sides of the outer end ofeach threaded element 168.

The sides of the drums 136 most adjacent to such housing 134 carryelements 174 having bores 176 communicating through bores 178, formed innuts 180 carried by the elements 174, with the bores 164 throughtherebetween spaces or chambers 172. Liquid leakage from the sides ofthe chambers 172 is prevented by sealing rings 182, 184, laterallyspaced apart adjacent opposite sides of each chamber 172 and encirclingthe shaft 130 laterally spaced apart longitudinally of the latter,biased one from the other by annular coil springs 202, 204. Liquidleakage by the one of each pair of the rings 182, 184 most adjacent tothe supporting arm 126, as will be noted from FIG. 5, flows externallyof the mining head 128 through a clearance or space 186 and is thereforereadily and quickly detectable. The spiral element 144 carried by eachdrum 136 contains an elongated longitudinal passage 190 communicatingwith the bore 176 in the respective element 174, such passage extendingsubstantially the length of the spiral element 144. Discharge outlets192 are provided at locations spaced along the length of each spiralelement 144 in communication with the therein contained passage 190 fordischarging liquid form the latter externally of the elements 144.

Similarly, each of the two outer supporting arms 126 contains a passage158a communicating wit a liquid supply hose 160a, in turn, connected toreceive liquid such as water from a pressurized source thereof. Thepassages 158a communicate with a liquid supply passage 190a, formedlongitudinally in the spiral element 144 on the respective adjacent drum138 to extend substantially throughout the length of the element 144 andat intervals along its length provided with discharge outlets 192a,through passages 162a. The connections of the passages 162a to the bores190a are each identical to the aforedescribed connection passage 162 toone of the passages 190. Hence, in FIG. 5 reference numeralscorresponding to those applied to the aforedescribed portion of theliquid supply means associated with the central supporting arm 26followed by the suffix a have been applied to corresponding partsassociated with the latter connection. Leakage of liquid from thechamber 172a past the sealing ring 182a, of course, passes externally ofthe mining head 128 through the space 194; and leakage of the liquid tothe bearings 132 and the intermeshing gears 154, 156 is prevented due tothe enclosure of the latter in a mounting housing 134.

The operation of the mining machine illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6 isbelieved to be apparent from the aforegoing description.

The preceding description it will be seen that the invention providesnew and improved means for accomplishing all of the aforestated objectsand advantages. It will be understood, however, that, although only twoembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and specificallyhereinbefore described, the invention is not limited merely to these twoembodiments but rather contemplates other embodiments and variationswithin the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a mining machine, a chassis, a boom mounted on said chassis forvertical movement thereto, supporting means carried by said boom, arotary mining head including a support and cutter supporting drum meanscarried by said support for rotation therewith, bearing means rotatablymounting said support on said supporting means, driving means includinggear means for rotatably driving said support relative to said supportmeans, discharge means peripherally of said drum means for dischargingliquid during rotation of said drum means, said supporting means beingprovided with first liquid supply passage means, second liquid supplypassage means in said mining head connected to said first supply passagemeans to receive liquid discharge means for supplying liquid thereto, aplurality of sealing rings laterally spaced apart adjacent oppositesides of the connection of said passage means for preventing liquidleakage at such connection, at least one of said sealing ringspreventing liquid leakage from passing externally of the mining head,and means separate from said sealing rings preventing liquid leakage bysaid sealing rings from flowing to said gear means and said bearingmeans.

2. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein said second supplypassage means is connected to said first supply passage means to receiveliquid therefrom in a direction transversely of said support, and saidsealing rings encircle said support and are laterally spaced apartlongitudinally of said support.

3. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein said second supplypassage means comprises an elongated passage, and said discharge meanscomprises a plurality of discharge outlets serially connected to saidelongated passage.

4. A mining machine according to claim 3, wherein said elongated passageis of spiral configuration.

5. A mining machine according to claim 3, wherein said elongated passageis annular.

6. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein said second supplypassage means comprises an annular fluid passage, and said dischargemeans comprises a plurality of discharge outlets connected to saidannular passage at locations spaced along the length thereof.

7. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein said drum meanscomprises a plurality of cutter support drums laterally spaced apartlongitudinally along said support, said supporting means includessupport housings between laterally adjacent ones of said spaced apartsupport drums, each said support housing is provided with liquid supplypassages and each said support drum includes liquid supply passagesconnected to such passages of one of said support housings to receiveliquid therefrom in a direction transversely of said support, eachconnection of said passages being provided with said sealing rings andsuch sealing rings extending peripherally around said support housings.

8. A mining machine according to claim 7, wherein said support drumsperipherally carry spiral plates having longitudinally extending liquidsupply passages communicating with the liquid supply passages of saiddrums and at locations spaced along their lengths provided withdischarge outlets for discharging liquid from the passages of saidspiral plates.

9. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein said drums meanscarries peripheral spiral plate means having longitudinal passagesforming a portion of said second supply passage means, said dischargemeans including discharge outlets communicating with the passages ofsaid spiral plates at spaced locations therealong.

1. In a mining machine, a chassis, a boom mounted on said chassis forvertical movement thereto, supporting means carried by said boom, arotary mining head including a support and cutter supporting drum meanscarried by said support for rotation therewith, bearing means rotatablymounting said support on said supporting means, driving means includinggear means for rotatably driving said support relative to said supportmeans, discharge means peripherally of said drum means for dischargingliquid during rotation of said drum means, said supporting means beingprovided with first liquid supply passage means, second liquid supplypassage means in said mining head connected to said first supply passagemeans to receive liquid therefrom and communicating with said liquiddischarge means for supplying liquid thereto, a plurality of sealingrings laterally spaced apart adjacent opposite sides of the connectionof said passage means for preventing liquid leakage at such connection,at least one of said sealing rings preventing liquid leakage frompassing externally of the mining head, and means separate from saidsealing rings preventing liquid leakage by said sealing rings fromflowing to said gear means and said bearing means.
 2. A mining machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said second supply passage means isconnected to said first supply passage means to receive liquid therefromin a direction transversely of said support, and said sealing ringsencircle said support and are laterally spaced apart longitudinally ofsaid support.
 3. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein saidsecond supply passage means comprises an elongated passage, and saiddischarge means comprises a plurality of discharge outlets seriallyconnected to said elongated passage.
 4. A mining machine according toclaim 3, wherein said elongated passage is of spiral configuration.
 5. Amining machine according to claim 3, wherein said elongated passage isannular.
 6. A mining machine according to claim 2, wherein said secondsupply passage means comprises an annular fluid passage, and saiddischarge means comprises a plurality of discharge outlets connected tosaid annular passage at locations spaced along the length thereof.
 7. Amining machine according to claim 2, wherein said drum means comprises aplurality of cutter support drums laterally spaced apart longitudinallyalong said support, said supporting means includes support housingsbetween laterally adjacent ones of said spaced apart support drums, eachsaid support housing is provided with liquid supply passages and eachsaid support drum includes liquid supply passages connected to suchpassages of one of said support housings to receive liquid therefrom ina direction transversely of said support, each connection of saidpassages being provided with said sealing rings and such sealing ringsextending peripherally around said support housings.
 8. A mining machineaccording to clAim 7, wherein said support drums peripherally carryspiral plates having longitudinally extending liquid supply passagescommunicating with the liquid supply passages of said drums and atlocations spaced along their lengths provided with discharge outlets fordischarging liquid from the passages of said spiral plates.
 9. A miningmachine according to claim 2, wherein said drums means carriesperipheral spiral plate means having longitudinal passages forming aportion of said second supply passage means, said discharge meansincluding discharge outlets communicating with the passages of saidspiral plates at spaced locations therealong.